(SportsNetwork.com) - What was shaping up as a Week 17 showdown for the AFC
North crown has now morphed into one final chance for the reigning Super Bowl
champions to get back into the NFL postseason.

Cincinnati handled its business last week and the Baltimore Ravens did not,
developments that mean the Bengals are the division champs while John
Harbaugh's group faces a must-win situation and help elsewhere to earn a
postseason berth.

Andy Dalton threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns in Week 16 as Cincinnati
took down Minnesota, 42-14. Dalton did so on 27-of-38 efficiency, connecting
with A.J. Green twice and Jermaine Gresham and Mohamed Sanu once apiece for
the Bengals (10-5), who locked up a playoff berth for a franchise-record third
straight season.

In addition, with Baltimore's 41-7 home loss to New England, Cincinnati became
AFC North champions for the first time since 2009.

"This team didn't set out to make the playoffs. We set out to try and go to
the Super Bowl and that goal hasn't been reached yet. We still have a ways to
go," guard Andrew Whitworth said.

Green ended up with team highs of 97 yards on seven receptions against the
Vikings, while Marvin Jones contributed 85 yards on six grabs.

"That's a credit to the guys in there and it's an awesome thing," Bengals head
coach Marvin Lewis said of capturing the division title. "It's one more
checkmark we can get off the wall and now is a chance to get another one. I
look forward to that. Until you do, people can always take shots at you and
now that that's done we can move on to the next one."

Conversely, the Patriots' LeGarrette Blount scored a pair of rushing
touchdowns and Tom Brady threw for another, as New England used a sterling
defensive effort to rout the Ravens in Week 16.

A banged-up Joe Flacco threw for 260 yards on 22-of-38 attempts and ran for a
touchdown, but was picked off twice and sacked four times for Baltimore.

"It's disappointing," said Flacco, who injured his left knee in the previous
week's game in Detroit and was forced to wear a balky brace. "We're used to
going out there and playing well when we need to and when playoffs are on the
line. We came out today hungry and ready to go get ourselves into the playoffs
or make our next step towards it, and we just didn't do it."

Ray Rice was limited to 40 yards on the ground on 11 carries, while Marlon
Brown caught four balls for 51 yards.

To reach the postseason now Baltimore must beat the Bengals, who happen to be
a perfect 7-0 at Paul Brown Stadium this season, and hope either Miami, which
plays at home against the New York Jets, or San Diego, which has Kansas City
at home, lose.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Bengals still have a chance at a first-round bye with a win, coupled with
a New England loss so they don't plan on resting any starters.

"We want to defend home and make sure we win," Bengals cornerback Pacman Jones
said. "If it was my choice, I don't want Baltimore to make it. We've got to
make sure we defend the house and play all four quarters."

Flacco wasn't the same last week against the Pats after injuring his knee. The
Super Bowl MVP didn't look all that comfortable with the knee brace but will
need it again this week and downplayed its affect on his play.

"I'm going to do it the same way," said Flacco. "I really just want to make
sure I can be as safe as I can moving forward so nothing crazy happens. I'm
pretty comfortable with it. It's not ideal, but it is what it is and it's not
that big of an issue."

Flacco needs 280 passing yards this week to join Vinny Testaverde (4,177 in
1996) as the only players in Ravens history to reach 4,000 in season. The
Ravens' offense, though, has been sputtering recently, scoring just one TD in
the last two games.

Things don't figure to get easier against the Bengals' defense, which is sixth
in the NFL against both the run and the pass despite being without All-Pro
defensive tackle Geno Atkins (torn ACL) and starting cornerback Leon Hall
(torn Achilles) for significant portions of the season.

"We're used to these guys," Flacco said. "They're a good defense. They have
been for a few years now. It's always a good test to play a division opponent
in their place. They have a lot to play for. We have a lot to play for. It's
going to be a good game, a good test."

Flacco's counterpart this week, Dalton, is also on the verge of a pair of team
records himself. He has 4,015 passing yards and 31 TD passes and needs just
117 more yards and two more TD throws to set new franchise marks, Green,
meanwhile, is 76 receiving yards short of Chad Johnson's Cincinnati record.

"It shows what we've been able to accomplish this year," Dalton said. "I think
that only happens if we've been winning games and doing some good things.
Personally, it's cool to be close to those records, but like you said, wins
are what ultimately matters."

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Ravens usually respond in these types of situations, going 4-0 under
Harbaugh coming off losses of 20 points or more.

"I think that's part of who we are," Harbaugh said. "If you've been watching
us all year, you would know that. You would understand that about us. It's a
one-game season as far as we're concerned."

The problem here is the Bengals are perfect at home and have been averaging a
staggering 43.5 points per game in their last four at Paul Brown Stadium. On
the other hand, Baltimore is 2-5 as the visitor this year, has lost four
straight at Cincy and Flacco isn't healthy.